Jump to content
 

Harriton - WCML 2016-19, The last years of Virgin


SprinterMan30
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 3 months later...

Not much to report on the layout over the summer months, but some key changes and decisions have been made alongside some side projects taking part on the workbench:

 

Point Motors - the last six months have seen me struggling with electrics involving seep point motors and trying but failing to sort out faults. Other modelers have also told me that this type of motor is very aggressive on the point mechanism itself and noisy when compared to other more expensive slow action point motors. Another thing I've noticed is that some have seized up and become very stiff even to move by hand, this could be due to the recent weather. For me this is the last straw, I have now lost all patience with them, being somebody who doesn't really like doing electrics just short of having no point motors at all I am now going to opt for Cobolt Motors instead and in order to save time and money I will only be adding these to the scenic section of the layout  as I'm sick and tired of all the time spent messing about with electrics when I could be doing other things. Whilst I accept that other people have probably had more success with Seep Point Motors than I have had they have been one big headache that I could do without

 

IMG_7003_(1).JPG.81dcaebb6fd0d9b511816ea8eb9f7924.JPG

 

Trackwork/ scenery around the station area - for the third and hopefully the final time I have decided to alter the track work approaching the station, the main reason being that as demonstrated in the pictures below a back scene will eventually be added on the righthand side with a retaining wall and a raised section that will carry the town/street scenes above track level and it didn't make sense from a scenic point of view to have the bay platform, which is the shortest platform tucked away and mostly hidden from view in the background with longest platform in the foreground. The final result is that the station layout is mostly the same just the opposite way around.

 

IMG_0015.JPG.0633680573743824d51d03204bc73ce9.JPG

 

In order to accommodate the bay platform on the lefthand side, a small extension will be built on at a later date.  A thunderbird siding is now also present to add in a bit more operational interest  by having somewhere to store a loco or rolling stock

 

IMG_0017.JPG.7c0449f0aa06eb23301010797b4243f1.JPG

 

IMG_0023.JPG.ae187211012cd4efacf071991ab07ab3.JPG

 

 

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

Scenic area on the righthand corner of the Layout - This has been one of those awkward 'I don't know what to do with this' area's of the layout for quite some time, I didn't just want to put a tunnel underneath a hill there to provide the scenic break where the fiddle yard begins and instead really wanted to do something original with the space, by chance when I was browsing through some images on google I found the perfect inspiration: the iconic section of railway line in north wales were the line is carried over the river by a bridge made to look similar in appearance to the nearby 13th century Conwy Castle. 

 

IMG_0021.JPG.306e98d0c2569c96e87e66f04d194564.JPG

 

IMG_0022.JPG.df0e89b164c49a247f2389aec6a8607c.JPG

 

The plan is to scratch build two tunnel mouths with turrets, together with an integrated bridge that should connect this scene, the canal/river scene and the other corner scene on the other side rather nicely. Fun fact: believe it or not the castle ruins are not from skaledale, but rather a very skilled trader on Ebay who I purchased them from for probably half the price!

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 4
Link to post
Share on other sites

Workbench: Meanwhile I just finished one of a few projects I have undertaken away from home. Various Wills SS78 waiting room kits that are going to become the platform level waiting rooms, shop/cafe, and toilets have successfully kitbashed with grooves added to represent stonework along with weathering effects. Really is amazing would you can do with a few plastic kits when you use your imagination.

 

1463558933_IMG_0062(1).JPG.c820588e387d055d378207b43397c1b0.JPG

 

IMG_0064.JPG.edff68338523169795045d946c959645.JPG

 

All buildings in their finished state with the exception one that still needs windows and doors painted. The idea is that two will be joined together in their original configuration on bay platform 1 and platform 2 to create one island building with the other separate with space in between them, whilst the rest have been adapted to make one long run low relief building built into the retaining wall on platform 5 along the back when it is installed.

 

 

 

 

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 8
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Here we have the latest addition to my loco fleet, DBC Class 66, 66005, which has been resprayed into the striking Maritime One Livery. This is now one of sixteen class 66's that currently reside on my Layout, although I try to avoid Loco's in one-off celebrity Liveries I have made an exception in this case as there are quite a few Loco's in real life now in this eye-catching Livery and it's likely several at any one given time will be on allocated to WCML Maritime traffic.

 

IMG_0070.JPG.701bc0b2cf78529c0c85a7047f878511.JPG

 

Looking at the Model I think it's fair to say its a decent representation of the real-life prototype. The quality of the paint application, finish, and positioning of some of the transfers in places isn't perfect and there are a few minor livery errors that need correcting, but that being said considering that I purchased this for just £68 second-hand compared to £250 for resprays being offered elsewhere this was quite a clever purchase. This Loco is definitely going to be one of my firm favorites

 

IMG_0069.JPG.9f13a3d1fbf7e62e537c4fa6b77db1cb.JPG

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 4
  • Agree 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 4 months later...

Hi everyone,

 

Firstly, I hope everyone is keeping safe and well in light of the Covid-19 situation over the last month, it is definitely very concerning, worrying and uncertain times we are now living through. I have been off work and "furloughed" since mid March and am currently back at my family home and have had a lot of extra time and money on my hands which has been put to good use on the layout.

 

This can only mean one thing...

 

Time for a long and overdue layout update (I believe the first of this year in fact!) on the layout and its progess over the last six months, this is going to be a big one and may be uploaded in the form of several posts so you may want to grab a cuppa for this one!

 

 

Due to being unable to get hold of Cobolt Point Motors from Hattons since October and still not being 100% certain about the placement of some of the points and trackwork, I turned my attention away from ballasting to developing the station and the surrounding forecourt area since February, this work partly concluded last week.

 

IMG_2474.JPG.f8a005552545b7a14f30140675a96732.JPG

 

The island buildings and low relief buildings which will be integrated into the retaining wall are now in their positions on Platforms 1, 2 and 5, these house waiting rooms, toilets and a Pumpkin Cafe. The platforms and canopy have now been painted, weathered and detailed with figures ,seating, signage and other small details. They are now almost complete with the exception of drainpipes/guttering, platform lighting and a few other small details

 

IMG_3489.JPG.9179bcf97cb8749e0b9549412a950a3e.JPG

 

IMG_3493.JPG.e6013ae5d44e3b6d5eaecc711280d9fe.JPG

 

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

The main station building is now complete. The platform facing side of the building has been weathered and modified slightly to accommodate three sets of stairs that lead down to the platforms below. Again interior lighting will be added at a later date in time

 

IMG_3306.JPG.dff2e8dfadd6c7b70197ffa4100aedad.JPG

IMG_3307.JPG.cd2dc7b88c3d28d3905b5baa5f378d70.JPG

 

Girder Plates have now also been added and have been weathered up using Humbrol weathering powders to give the effect of rust/dust/ grime/soot built up over the years followed by a layer matt enamel spray varnish

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 4
  • Craftsmanship/clever 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

The forecourt side of the building and surrounding town scene has moved forward as well with a road, cobblestone, paving added with a Premier Inn and Virgin Active Gym a stones throw away from the station. I didn't want to make the usual oversight of creating an area that looks too much like a town centre by adding a load of high street shops as most stations are fair distance from town centres.

 

IMG_3437.JPG.71db85567b05407cdce458992433312a.JPG

IMG_3434.JPG.3e904990d10fe4f8e1e6746a786c2828.JPG

IMG_3440.JPG.6a895af5cd5a0a30fc8d31763b7b1b4c.JPG

Here we have an aerial view (With my Sister's Cat making a Cameo Appearance in the background!) , road markings, street lighting, signage and more details will be added in the carpark over the coming weeks depending on how easy it is to get hold of the supplies needed

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 7
  • Agree 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

The retaining wall/ townscene and streetscene support sections have also been completed, now this is in place, the planning of the townscence can now begin to commence. A backscene now runs behind the majority of the scenic sections of the layout

 

IMG_3446.JPG.777ead594cf11a463232ebb9db59ee08.JPG

In this picture we see where the road goes over the bridge off scene and turns into a T junction that goes off the direction of the suburb scene ,everything to left of this will be a market square and therefore cobblestone and pedestrianised making this the main section of roadway on the layout

IMG_3494.JPG.87090569dd5a484ca32c0058a77721bd.JPG

A view showing the signal box that will be integrated into the retaining wall when it is built

 

IMG_3449.JPG.9e70f5fbca1e8835b8b3e3739f9dd0c4.JPG

Some of planned market square scene

IMG_3450.JPG.1a420e61166fc9383d999e1c3de6a232.JPG

 

Edited by SprinterMan30
  • Like 5
  • Friendly/supportive 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

And finally a little scratchbuilding project undertaken on the workbench.

 

I felt the layout definitely needed a modern supermarket situated in a location where in suburbs start and this resulted in the construction of a low relief Sainsbury's Supermarket constructed from plastikard, card and a plastic wills kit. It certainly has the look and feel I was after and fits into this part of the layout nicely.

 

Interior lighting has been added in the entrance and exterior lighting above and below the main supermarket sign will be installed at a later date as well

 

IMG_3443.JPG.7ba69b3ec6aad25b46faba30cfeb1bbd.JPG

IMG_3444.JPG.d7d8a6e1138a3b497683459be9474ef2.JPG

 

IMG_3637.JPG.74654db4811522749c55d2b59f5dc09c.JPGIMG_3452.JPG.5527ea28ef8d53af31a253fe9a6bfa7c.JPG

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 02/12/2019 at 16:36, Benjamin Brady said:

Good Evening, 

 

Just a quick question with your class 90. 

 

Where the buffers just a straight swap with some spares and did the rubbing plate come off easily enough?

 

A very good looking layout and I like what you've done with the station buildings

 

Cheers 

 

Benjamin

 Hi Benjamin,

 

The buffers were Hornby Class 66 spares and rubbing plate I cut off using a craft knife

 

Regards,

 

Ed

Link to post
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, SprinterMan30 said:

Hi Pete,

 

It's a vollmer kit that I have kitbashed and changed somewhat to fit in with the location and theme of my layout

 

Regards,

 

Ed

Rightly or wrongly, it reminds me of Chester (not far off the WCML), probably due to the station square at the front.

I have only been there once, which was about 12 years ago so my memories of it are not that accurate, but I am reminded of it all the same.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thought I'd share some pictures of newest DMU currently in my fleet, Bachmann's new and retooled Class 158, 158773 in East Midlands Trains Livery.

 

Although I've had the Unit since February, yesterday was it's first actual day in service on the layout following the fitting of Bachmann's bespoke 22 pin plux Decoder specifically designed for this particular model.

 

Very happy with the Model, both in terms of detail and performance it certainly does not dissapoint!

 

IMG_4124.JPG.ed6a207ac6565f48451f49e13ae620db.JPG

 

IMG_4126.JPG.9c8a30f04c452afb5aa95b8e5562f547.JPG

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 15/04/2020 at 20:25, SprinterMan30 said:

The retaining wall/ townscene and streetscene support sections have also been completed, now this is in place, the planning of the townscence can now begin to commence. A backscene now runs behind the majority of the scenic sections of the layout

 

IMG_3446.JPG.777ead594cf11a463232ebb9db59ee08.JPG

In this picture we see where the road goes over the bridge off scene and turns into a T junction that goes off the direction of the suburb scene ,everything to left of this will be a market square and therefore cobblestone and pedestrianised making this the main section of roadway on the layout

IMG_3494.JPG.87090569dd5a484ca32c0058a77721bd.JPG

A view showing the signal box that will be integrated into the retaining wall when it is built

 

IMG_3449.JPG.9e70f5fbca1e8835b8b3e3739f9dd0c4.JPG

Some of planned market square scene

IMG_3450.JPG.1a420e61166fc9383d999e1c3de6a232.JPG

 

That integrated signal box is almost Dean_Park_Station-ish ... he's on YouTube... his layout is mindblowingly good.

Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, DBC90024 said:

That integrated signal box is almost Dean_Park_Station-ish ... he's on YouTube... his layout is mindblowingly good.

It's funny you should mention that as the signal box was actually inspired by Dean Park along with some other elements of the layout!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...